The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-05-04
"Cho?pin"" Cotton.
c:. j. Fedding in Southern cultivator)

IL. j. edding in Southern Cu!tivatorj
The characteristic work on I cotton
farm during the month OF Nay is cotton
chopping. among TIE many machines
that have been invented to DO this work
none has yet been very favorably re-
ceived or generally adopted by farmers.
The operation is one--iike cotton-rick-
ing-that seems to demand an ever
changing motion and the exercise OF an
ever-acting judgment whicn cannot be
nlater;alized into & machine. orch d
machine, however, is probably within
the possibilities OF human invention:
The cotton harvester is IN uGdispptea
necessity; bat it is not SO clear that &
machine for choppiDg, or merely
:.blockiDg out cotson-reduciDg tie
continuous row Of plants to bunches-is
exactly what is needed. Why SOW tie seed
SO as to secure q continuous row OF
plants, and then at the first operation
proceed to destroy the continuity? On
Door, unfertilized land, which requires
that the plants should stand very close
! in order to make q maximum crop, such
continuous row is perhaps necessary;
! but it seems an unnecessary waste OF
seed and labor on lard which viii bear
the stalks IS inches 20 Two or three feet
apart. Why uot plant the seed on such
| land III hills or steps-a!ready chopped?
T;5e l,;I xrife,. ~ 7,lantn1 his entire: cro1 two
successive years in hills 2X3a feet WITH
the most satisfactory resalIs. But -t 3
! too late now to discuss the pohcy OF NIL
or steu-plantirr. The crcp is nearly all
planted and much OF it viii soon be
ready for the first operation.
If the soil has been iIapactea from the
effect OF one CT more rams after plant
iD., il is o. the first importance to orcah
tie crust and let ii the light and ar.
The condition c; The land IL this respect
snd the necessities OF lie corc crop. viii
determine whether i vii! be better 10
choo before or after blowing. Wen
; the ground IS IN good, Ic::oS condition,
and conpara.ivel. free FROM grass, We
Lave often I@;:1G i better 10 pug the
hoes to work IL advance oi blowing and
as soon as the seed-ie&f o. the plant Is
fully developed. Ii this plan IS adopted
the work OF chopping out should ard
Ray be very rapldiy cone, inc AKA pc
ing to get over the crop Il = week or ten
DAYS or less. It does rot pay 70 con-
sumo the time that would be required to
t!.;n cut to given number Of plants, or
/, leave each buucn III u perfect ccadi-
| ton. Ii the crop has been well a1d
smoothly planted ard the ground is
mcIow and free from, distractions, such
80 cIods and stones, . nand snonii % in
" lind OF half walk, rarely giving mozc
tsan a stroke for each 50uce q plants
le{f We have seen expert Aoe-hantls &c
over in this way two acres per haud pc-
6av and even more. Remember, tn #
fh;s nlan. .hopinu. or ..b!ocking OUT
head OF the blows. reuuires anti assumes
HAT the cotton should be p:osed within
few davs. Geperaliv the cotton crop
needs to be gone o7crn with plows or
+: Ioes as rapidiy as it was planted. L
sometimes occurs tnat tie whcie crop
! cones M together, however planted. IL
.onl, q inncf:,re i is more Important to
C..t over op;cl,Iy fhar 70 do the work
J,,a- r.o,l-, ,,arfnctlr Tho nm shcuiG